The Truth about Race and Policing
A protest in Cleveland, Ohio, after police officer Michael Brelo was acquitted for the shooting deaths of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams. Ricky Rhodes, Getty Images.
The July 2016 Vox article, "I'm a black ex-cop, and this is the real truth about race and policing" is a must read to understand the history and current reality of race and policing. Written by retired police officer Redditt Hudson, the article is long but so well structured and thoughtful that you can read it in sections and not lose your train of thought. Here are a few quotes that remain with me.
Racism is woven into the fabric of our nation. At no time in our history has there been a national consensus that everyone should be equally valued in all areas of life.
We are rooted in racism in spite of the better efforts of Americans of all races to change that.
Because of this legacy of racism, police abuse in black and brown communities is generations old. It is nothing new.
There are officers around the country who want to address institutional racism.
Hudson served on the St. Louis Police Department for five years. He is currently the board chair of The Ethics Project, and a member of the National Coalition of Law Enforcement for Justice, Reform, and Accountability.